by Adelani Aderemi

Created on: June 25, 2009   Last Updated: June 27, 2009

Alake closed the Bible he had been leafing through for the last thirty minutes with a sigh. He hadn't read a word in it. In fact, he had started doubting if it was a right decision for him to become a Christian. He had watched in anticipation as many others in the church gave testimonies of one good thing or the other that the Lord did for them, but for six years now, he had not had a cause to stand in front of the people to tell them one thing the Lord has done for him. His were records of unfortunate incidences. Six years of unemployment; second year of living alone since his wife of seven years left him. He was unfruitful in career, in marriage and in his spiritual life; there was nothing he could point at as an achievement. Worse still, the friends he left back in his former life of sin have recorded strings of successes and to his chagrin, they now mocked him.

Enough of this sham! It's not real. He opened a drawer in his desk, put the Bible there and lay back on the pillow to continue his thinking. I must find my way to success; my friends have promised to help. It would be difficult for him to wave off the intrusions of the church brethren but he knew he must. Even if he had to relocate to another part of the town, he would do it to gain his freedom. Life must not continue like this. There is no help in church. He felt drowsy.

One of his friends took him to a big garden with herds of cattle. Very few among them were fat and sleek while the rest were thin. As he stood, he observed that the lean ones were in smaller groups and each group was led by a shepherd boy out of the encampment. But the sleek cows were taken to the centre of the encampment and tied to a big, shady three. There they were fed and watered. Not long, a veterinary doctor came to administer some treatment.

Before long, it was sunset and the lean cows were herded back into the encampment. The following morning, they were herded out again and yet, the sleek ones were given the special treatment. He became puzzled and as he pondered over what this might mean in his mind, he saw an elderly man at a distance so he walked up to him. After exchange of pleasantries, he asked the elderly shepherd why these few cows were being given special treatment and the rest were not? The man smiled and told him that these ones given special treatment were being specially nourished to make them attractive to butchers but the rest shall be allowed to procreate. Even while they talked, a truck

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